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Chapter 3: Karma Yoga
![[The Bhagavad Gita]](images/gita(1x).jpg)
— begin anuṣṭubh meter (4x8) —
Śloka 3.1
अर्जुन उवाच
arjuna uvāca
ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते
jyāyasī cetkarmaṇaste
मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन ।
matā buddhirjanārdana |
तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां
tatkiṃ karmaṇi ghore māṃ
नियोजयसि केशव ॥ १ ॥
niyojayasi keśava ‖ 1 ‖
~~~
arjuna: Arjuna; uvāca: he said; jyāyasī: better; cet-karmaṇaḥ-te: if + than action + your; matā: opinion; buddhiḥ-janārdana: intelligence + O Agitator of Men; tat-kim: that + why; karmaṇi: in activity; ghore: in violent; mām: me; niyojayasi: you engage; keśava: O Handsome-Haired
Arjuna said: “If you think intelligence is better than action, O Agitator of Men, then why do you engage me in violent activity, O Handsome-Haired?”
Śloka 3.2
व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन
vyāmiśreṇeva vākyena
बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे ।
buddhiṃ mohayasīva me |
तदेकं वद निश्चित्य
tadekaṃ vada niścitya
येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् ॥ २ ॥
yena śreyo’hamāpnuyām ‖ 2 ‖
~~~
vyāmiśreṇa-iva: with contradictory + seemingly; vākyena: with instructions; buddhim: intelligence; mohayasi-iva: you confuse + seemingly; me: my; tat-ekam: that + one; vada: you should tell; niścitya: for certain; yena: by which; śreyaḥ-aham-āpnuyām: most benefit + I + I may attain
“You confuse my intelligence with your seemingly contradictory instruction. Please tell me for certain that one instruction by which I may attain the most benefit.”
Śloka 3.3
श्रीभगवानुवाच
śrībhagavānuvāca
लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा
loke’smindvividhā niṣṭhā
पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ ।
purā proktā mayānagha |
ज्ञानयोगेन सांख्यानां
jñānayogena sāṃkhyānāṃ
कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम् ॥ ३ ॥
karmayogena yoginām ‖ 3 ‖
~~~
śrī-bhagavān-uvāca: The Blessed + Lord + he said; loke-asmin-dvividhā: in the world + in this + two kinds; niṣṭhā: paths; purā: previously; proktā: were taught; mayā-anagha: by me + O Sinless; jñānayogena: by jñānayoga; sāṃkhyānām: for the followers of Sāṃkhya; karmayogena: by karmayoga; yoginām: for the followers of Yoga
The Blessed Lord said: “I have previously taught two paths in the world, O Sinless: jñānayoga for the followers of Sāṃkhya and karmayoga for the followers of Yoga.”
Śloka 3.4
न कर्मणामनारम्भान्-
na karmaṇāmanārambhān-
नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते ।
naiṣkarmyaṃ puruṣo’śnute |
न च संन्यसनादेव
na ca saṃnyasanādeva
सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति ॥ ४ ॥
siddhiṃ samadhigacchati ‖ 4 ‖
~~~
na: not; karmaṇām-anārambhāt-naiṣkarmyam: of actions + from (by) abstaining + freedom from [re]action; puruṣaḥ-aśnute: person + he attains; na: nor; ca: and; saṃnyasanāt-eva: from (by) renunciation + alone; siddhim: perfection; samadhigacchati: he completely attains
“A person cannot attain freedom from [re]action by abstaining from action, nor can they completely attain perfection by renunciation alone.”
Śloka 3.5
न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि
na hi kaścitkṣaṇamapi
जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् ।
jātu tiṣṭhatyakarmakṛt |
कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म
kāryate hyavaśaḥ karma
सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः ॥ ५ ॥
sarvaḥ prakṛtijairguṇaiḥ ‖ 5 ‖
~~~
na: no; hi: certainly; kaścit-kṣaṇam-api: anyone + moment + even; jātu: ever; tiṣṭhati-akarma-kṛt: he remains + without action + performing; kāryate: he is forced to perform; hi-avaśaḥ: for + helplessly; karma: action; sarvaḥ: everyone; prakṛtijaiḥ-guṇaiḥ: by born of nature + by the qualities
“No one can ever remain, even for a moment, without performing action. For everyone is helplessly forced to perform action by the qualities born of nature.”
Śloka 3.6
कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य
karmendriyāṇi saṃyamya
य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् ।
ya āste manasā smaran |
इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा
indriyārthānvimūḍhātmā
मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते ॥ ६ ॥
mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate ‖ 6 ‖
~~~
karmendriyāṇi: action senses; saṃyamya: having restrained; yaḥ: he who; āste: he sits; manasā: with the mind; smaran: dwelling on; indriyārthān-vimūḍhātmā: sense objects + deluded; mithyācāraḥ: hypocrite; saḥ: he; ucyate: he is called
“Having restrained the action senses, one who sits with their mind dwelling on sense objects is deluded. They are called a hypocrite.”
Śloka 3.7
यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा
yastvindriyāṇi manasā
नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन ।
niyamyārabhate’rjuna |
कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगम्-
karmendriyaiḥ karmayogam-
असक्तः स विशिष्यते ॥ ७ ॥
asaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate ‖ 7 ‖
~~~
yaḥ-tu-indriyāṇi: he who + but + senses; manasā: with the mind; niyamya-ārabhate-arjuna: having restrained + he begins + O Arjuna; karmendriyaiḥ: with the action senses; karmayogam-asaktaḥ: karmayoga + unattached; saḥ: he; viśiṣyate: he excels
“But having restrained the senses with the mind, O Arjuna, one who begins karmayoga with his action senses unattached, excels.”
Śloka 3.8
नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं
niyataṃ kuru karma tvaṃ
कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः ।
karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ |
शरीरयात्रापि च ते
śarīrayātrāpi ca te
न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः ॥ ८ ॥
na prasiddhyedakarmaṇaḥ ‖ 8 ‖
~~~
niyatam: required; kuru: you must perform; karma: action; tvam: you; karma: action; jyāyaḥ: better; hi-akarmaṇaḥ: for + than inaction; śarīra-yātra-api: body + maintenance + even; ca: and; te: your; na: not; prasiddhyet-akarmaṇaḥ: it may be accomplished + from no action
“You must perform required action, for action is better than inaction. Even the maintenance of your body is not possible without action.”
Śloka 3.9
यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र
yajñārthātkarmaṇo’nyatra
लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः ।
loko’yaṃ karmabandhanaḥ |
तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय
tadarthaṃ karma kaunteya
मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर ॥ ९ ॥
muktasaṅgaḥ samācara ‖ 9 ‖
~~~
yajña-arthāt-karmaṇaḥ-anyatra: sacrifice + from the sake of + of actions + otherwise; lokaḥ-ayam: world + this; karma-bandhanaḥ: action + binding; tat-artham: that + sake; karma: action; kaunteya: O Son of Kuntī; muktasaṅgaḥ: free from attachment; samācara: practice
“Practice action for the sake of sacrifice, O Son of Kuntī. Action for that sake is free from attachment. Otherwise, it is binding in this world.”
Śloka 3.10
सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा
sahayajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā
पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः ।
purovāca prajāpatiḥ |
अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वम्-
anena prasaviṣyadhvam-
एष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक् ॥ १० ॥
eṣa vo’stviṣṭakāmadhuk ‖ 10 ‖
~~~
saha-yajñāḥ: along with + sacrifice; prajāḥ: mankind; sṛṣṭvā: having brought forth; pura-uvāca: in the beginning + he said; prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati; anena: by this; prasaviṣyadhvam-eṣaḥ: you will propagate + this; vaḥ-astu-iṣṭa-kāmadhuk: your + may it be + wish + fulfilling cow
“Having brought forth mankind in the beginning along with sacrifice, Prajāpati said: ‘By this sacrifice you will propagate. May it be your wish-fulfilling cow.’”
Śloka 3.11
देवान्भावयतानेन
devānbhāvayatānena
ते देवा भावयन्तु वः ।
te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ |
परस्परं भावयन्तः
parasparaṃ bhāvayantaḥ
श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ ॥ ११ ॥
śreyaḥ paramavāpsyatha ‖ 11 ‖
~~~
devān-bhāvayatā-anena: gods + by pleasing + by this; te: they; devāḥ: gods; bhāvayantu: they will please; vaḥ: you; parasparam: mutually; bhāvayantaḥ: pleasing; śreyaḥ: good; param-avāpsyatha: highest + you will attain
“Please the gods by this sacrifice, and they will please you. Pleasing each other, you will attain the highest good.”
Śloka 3.12
इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा
iṣṭānbhogānhi vo devā
दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः ।
dāsyante yajñabhāvitāḥ |
तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो
tairdattānapradāyaibhyo
यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ॥ १२ ॥
yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ ‖ 12 ‖
~~~
iṣṭān-bhogān-hi: desired + pleasures + certainly; vaḥ: you; devāḥ: gods; dāsyante: they will grant; yajña-bhāvitāḥ: sacrifice + pleased; taiḥ-dattān-apradāya-ebhyaḥ: by (from) them + gifts + without gifting + to them; yaḥ: he who; bhuṅkte: he enjoys; stenaḥ: thief; eva: merely; saḥ: he
“Pleased by sacrifice, the gods will certainly grant your heart’s desire. But one who enjoys their gifts without reciprocating is merely a thief.”
Śloka 3.13
यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो
yajñaśiṣṭāśinaḥ santo
मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः ।
mucyante sarvakilbiṣaiḥ |
भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा
bhuñjate te tvaghaṃ pāpā
ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् ॥ १३ ॥
ye pacantyātmakāraṇāt ‖ 13 ‖
~~~
yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ: sacrifice + from (by) consuming remnants; santaḥ: righteous; mucyante: they are freed; sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ: all + by (from) sins; bhuñjate: they consume; te: they; tu-agham: but + sinful; pāpāḥ: sins; ye: those who; pacanti-ātma-kāraṇāt: they prepare + their own + from (for) sake
“The righteous who consume the remnants of sacrifice are freed from all sins. But the sinful who prepare food for their own sake consume sin.”
Śloka 3.14
अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि
annādbhavanti bhūtāni
पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः ।
parjanyādannasambhavaḥ |
यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो
yajñādbhavati parjanyo
यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः ॥ १४ ॥
yajñaḥ karmasamudbhavaḥ ‖ 14 ‖
~~~
annāt-bhavanti: from grain + they come; bhūtāni: living beings; parjanyāt-anna-sambhavaḥ: from rain + food + coming from; yajñāt-bhavati: from sacrifice + it comes; parjanyaḥ: rain; yajñaḥ: sacrifice; karma-samudbhavaḥ: ritual + coming from
“Living beings come from food. Food comes from rain. Rain comes from sacrifice. Sacrifice comes from ritual.”
Śloka 3.15
कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि
karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi
ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम् ।
brahmākṣarasamudbhavam |
तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म
tasmātsarvagataṃ brahma
नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ १५ ॥
nityaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam ‖ 15 ‖
~~~
karma: ritual; brahma-udbhavam: Vedas + coming from; viddhi: you should know; brahma-akṣara-samudbhavam: Vedas + Imperishable + coming from; tasmāt-sarvagatam: therefore + omnipresent; brahma: Vedas; nityam: eternally; yajñe: in sacrifice; pratiṣṭhitam: situated
“Know that ritual comes from the Vedas, and the Vedas come from the Imperishable. Therefore, the omnipresent Vedas are eternally situated in sacrifice.”
Śloka 3.16
एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं
evaṃ pravartitaṃ cakraṃ
नानुवर्तयतीह यः ।
nānuvartayatīha yaḥ |
अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो
aghāyurindriyārāmo
मोघं पार्थ स जीवति ॥ १६ ॥
moghaṃ pārtha sa jīvati ‖ 16 ‖
~~~
evam: thus; pravartitam: established; cakram: cycle; na-anuvartayati-iha: not + he follows + in this world; yaḥ: he who; agha-āyuḥ-indriya-ārāmaḥ: sinful + life + senses + delights in; mogham: vain; pārtha: O Son of Pṛthā; saḥ: he; jīvati: he lives
“One who does not follow the cycle thus set in motion in this world, whose life is sinful, and who delights in the senses, O Son of Pṛthā, lives in vain.”
Śloka 3.17
यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्याद्-
yastvātmaratireva syād-
आत्मतृप्तश्च मानवः ।
ātmatṛptaśca mānavaḥ |
आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्-
ātmanyeva ca santuṣṭas-
तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ॥ १७ ॥
tasya kāryaṃ na vidyate ‖ 17 ‖
~~~
yaḥ-tu-ātma-ratiḥ-eva: he who + but + soul + delights in + only; syāt-ātma-tṛptaḥ-ca: he may be + soul + satisfied + and; mānavaḥ: one; ātmani-eva: in the soul + alone; ca: and; santuṣṭaḥ-tasya: content + for him; kāryam: agenda; na: nothing; vidyate: there is
“But for one who delights only in the soul, who may be satisfied in the soul alone, and who is content in the soul, there is no agenda.”
Śloka 3.18
नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो
naiva tasya kṛtenārtho
नाकृतेनेह कश्चन ।
nākṛteneha kaścana |
न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु
na cāsya sarvabhūteṣu
कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः ॥ १८ ॥
kaścidarthavyapāśrayaḥ ‖ 18 ‖
~~~
na-eva: no + certainly; tasya: for him; kṛtena-arthaḥ: through action + object to gain; na-akṛtena-iha: nor + through inaction + in this world; kaścana: anything; na: not; ca-asya: and + for them; sarvabhūteṣu: on anyone; kaścit-artha-vyapāśrayaḥ: any + thing + dependent
“For them, there is no object to gain through action nor inaction in this world. They are not dependent on anyone or anything.”
Śloka 3.19
तस्मादसक्तः सततं
tasmādasaktaḥ satataṃ
कार्यं कर्म समाचर ।
kāryaṃ karma samācara |
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म
asakto hyācarankarma
परमाप्नोति पूरुषः ॥ १९ ॥
paramāpnoti pūruṣaḥ ‖ 19 ‖
~~~
tasmāt-asaktaḥ: therefore + without attachment; satatam: always; kāryam: must be done; karma: action; samācara: performing; asaktaḥ: without attachment; hi-ācaran-karma: for + performing + action; param-āpnoti: supreme + he attains; pūruṣaḥ: person
“Therefore, always perform the required action without attachment. For a person who performs action without attachment attains the Supreme [State].”
Śloka 3.20
कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिम्-
karmaṇaiva hi saṃsiddhim-
आस्थिता जनकादयः ।
āsthitā janakādayaḥ |
लोकसङ्ग्रहमेवापि
lokasaṅgrahamevāpi
सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ २० ॥
sampaśyankartumarhasi ‖ 20 ‖
~~~
karmaṇā-eva: through action + alone; hi: for example; saṃsiddhim-āsthitāḥ: perfection + attained; janaka-ādayaḥ: Janaka + others; lokasaṅgraham-eva-api: welfare of the world + same + as well; sampaśyan-kartum-arhasi: in regard to + to act + you should
“For example, Janaka and others attained perfection through action alone. You should act in the same regard for the welfare of the world as well.”
Śloka 3.21
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्-
yadyadācarati śreṣṭhas-
तत्तदेवेतरो जनः ।
tattadevetaro janaḥ |
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते
sa yatpramāṇaṃ kurute
लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ॥ २१ ॥
lokastadanuvartate ‖ 21 ‖
~~~
yadyat-ācarati: whatever + he does; śreṣṭhaḥ-tattat-eva-itaraḥ: great one + that + certainly + other; janaḥ: people; saḥ: he; yat-pramāṇam: whatever + standard; kurute: he sets; lokaḥ-tat-anuvartate: world + that + it follows
“Whatever a great one does, that other people do. Whatever standard they set, that the world follows.”
Śloka 3.22
न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं
na me pārthāsti kartavyaṃ
त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन ।
triṣu lokeṣu kiñcana |
नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं
nānavāptamavāptavyaṃ
वर्त एव च कर्मणि ॥ २२ ॥
varta eva ca karmaṇi ‖ 22 ‖
~~~
na: not; me: me; pārtha-asti: O Son of Pṛthā + there is; kartavyam: to be done; triṣu: in the three; lokeṣu: in the worlds; kiñcana: anything; na-anavāptam-avāptavyam: nor + not gained + to be gained; varta: engaged; eva: still; ca: and; karmaṇi: in action
“For me, O Son of Pṛthā, there is nothing to be done in the three worlds, nor is there anything I lack to be gained. Still, I am engaged in action.”
Śloka 3.23
यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं
yadi hyahaṃ na varteyaṃ
जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः ।
jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ |
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते
mama vartmānuvartante
मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥ २३ ॥
manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ ‖ 23 ‖
~~~
yadi: if; hi-aham: for + I; na: not; varteyam: I would perform; jātu: ever; karmaṇi-atandritaḥ: actions + tirelessly; mama: my; vartma-anuvartante: path + they follow; manuṣyāḥ: everyone; pārtha: O Son of Pṛthā; sarvaśaḥ: in every way
“For if I ever failed to tirelessly perform action, O Son of Pṛthā, everyone would follow my path in every way.”
Śloka 3.24
उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका
utsīdeyurime lokā
न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम् ।
na kuryāṃ karma cedaham |
सङ्करस्य च कर्ता स्याम्-
saṅkarasya ca kartā syām-
उपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः ॥ २४ ॥
upahanyāmimāḥ prajāḥ ‖ 24 ‖
~~~
utsīdeyuḥ-ime: they would fall into ruin + these; lokāḥ: people; na: not; kuryām: I may perform; karma: action; cet-aham: if + I; saṅkarasya: of mixed castes; ca: and; kartā: agent; syām-upahanyām-imāḥ: I would be + destruction + these; prajāḥ: people
“If I did not perform action, these people would fall into ruin. I would be the agent of mixed castes and the destruction of these people.”
Śloka 3.25
सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो
saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvāṃso
यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत ।
yathā kurvanti bhārata |
कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्-
kuryādvidvāṃstathāsaktaś-
चिकीर्षुर्लोकसङ्ग्रहम् ॥ २५ ॥
cikīrṣurlokasaṅgraham ‖ 25 ‖
~~~
saktāḥ: attachment; karmaṇi-avidvāṃsaḥ: to action + ignorant; yathā: as; kurvanti: they act; bhārata: O Descendant of Bharata; kuryāt-vidvāṃs-tathā-asaktaḥ-cikīrṣuḥ-lokasaṅgraham: they must act + wise + thus + without attachment + desirous of + welfare of the world
“Just as the ignorant act with attachment to action, O Descendant of Bharata, so the wise must act without attachment, for the welfare of the world.”
Śloka 3.26
न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेद्-
na buddhibhedaṃ janayed-
अज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम् ।
ajñānāṃ karmasaṅginām |
जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि
joṣayetsarvakarmāṇi
विद्वान्युक्तः समाचरन् ॥ २६ ॥
vidvānyuktaḥ samācaran ‖ 26 ‖
~~~
na: not; buddhi-bhedam: intelligence + disturbance; janayet-ajñānām: he should cause + of the ignorant; karma-saṅginām: action + attached to; joṣayet-sarva-karmāṇi: he should encourage + all + actions; vidvān-yuktaḥ: wise person + properly; samācaran: practicing
“But a wise person should not disturb the intelligence of an ignorant person attached to action. Instead, they should encourage them to practice all actions properly.”
Śloka 3.27
प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि
prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni
गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः ।
guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ |
अहङ्कारविमूढात्मा
ahaṅkāravimūḍhātmā
कर्ताहमिति मन्यते ॥ २७ ॥
kartāhamiti manyate ‖ 27 ‖
~~~
prakṛteḥ: of nature; kriyamāṇāni: being performed; guṇaiḥ: by the qualities; karmāṇi: actions; sarvaśaḥ: all; ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā: egotism + deluded; kartā-aham-iti: actor + I + thus; manyate: he thinks
“All actions are being performed by the qualities of nature. Yet one deluded by egotism thinks, ‘I am the actor.’”
Śloka 3.28
तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो
tattvavittu mahābāho
गुणकर्मविभागयोः ।
guṇakarmavibhāgayoḥ |
गुणा गुणेषु वर्तन्त
guṇā guṇeṣu vartanta
इति मत्वा न सज्जते ॥ २८ ॥
iti matvā na sajjate ‖ 28 ‖
~~~
tattva-vit-tu: truth + knower + but; mahābāho: O Mighty-Armed; guṇa-karma-vibhāgayoḥ: qualities + action + of the relationship between; guṇāḥ: qualities; guṇeṣu: in (with) the qualities; vartanta: interacting; iti: thus; matvā: having realized; na: not; sajjate: he attaches to
“But one who truly knows the relationship between the qualities and action remains unattached, O Mighty-Armed, having realized, ‘The qualities interact with the qualities.’”
Śloka 3.29
प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः
prakṛterguṇasammūḍhāḥ
सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु ।
sajjante guṇakarmasu |
तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्-
tānakṛtsnavido mandān-
कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत् ॥ २९ ॥
kṛtsnavinna vicālayet ‖ 29 ‖
~~~
prakṛteḥ-guṇa-sammūḍhāḥ: of nature + qualities + deluded; sajjante: they cling to; guṇa-karmasu: qualities + in (to) activity; tān-akṛtsna-vidaḥ: those + incomplete + knowledge; mandān-kṛtsna-vit-na: foolish + complete + knowledge + not; vicālayet: he should confuse
“Those deluded by the qualities of nature cling to the activity of the qualities. Those of knowledge should not confuse the foolish without knowledge.”
Śloka 3.30
मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि
mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi
संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा ।
saṃnyasyādhyātmacetasā |
निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा
nirāśīrnirmamo bhūtvā
युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः ॥ ३० ॥
yudhyasva vigatajvaraḥ ‖ 30 ‖
~~~
mayi: unto me; sarvāṇi: all; karmāṇi: actions; saṃnyasya-adhyātma-cetasā: having renounced + Supreme Spirit + thinking of; nirāśīḥ-nirmamaḥ: free from desire + without possessiveness; bhūtvā: having become; yudhyasva: you should fight; vigata-jvaraḥ: free of + grief
“Having renounced all actions unto me, thinking of the Supreme Spirit, and having become free from desire and possessiveness, you should fight free of grief.”
Śloka 3.31
ये मे मतमिदं नित्यम्-
ye me matamidaṃ nityam-
अनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः ।
anutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ |
श्रद्धावन्तोऽनसूयन्तो
śraddhāvanto’nasūyanto
मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभिः ॥ ३१ ॥
mucyante te’pi karmabhiḥ ‖ 31 ‖
~~~
ye: those who; me: of mine; matam-idam: teaching + this; nityam-anutiṣṭhanti: constantly + they follow; mānavāḥ: people; śraddhāvantaḥ-anasūyantaḥ: full of faith + without objection; mucyante: they are freed; te-api: they + also; karmabhiḥ: by (from) actions
“Those people who constantly follow this teaching of mine full of faith and without objection are freed from actions.”
Śloka 3.32
ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो
ye tvetadabhyasūyanto
नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम् ।
nānutiṣṭhanti me matam |
सर्वज्ञानविमूढांस्तान्-
sarvajñānavimūḍhāṃstān-
विद्धि नष्टानचेतसः ॥ ३२ ॥
viddhi naṣṭānacetasaḥ ‖ 32 ‖
~~~
ye: those who; tu-etat-abhyasūyantaḥ: but + this + object; na-anutiṣṭhanti: not + they follow; me: of mine; matam: teaching; sarvajñāna-vimūḍhāṃs-tān-viddhi: all knowledge + deluded + them + you should know; naṣṭān-acetasaḥ: lost + mindless
“But those who object and do not follow this teaching of mine, know them to be deluded in all knowledge, mindless, and lost.”
Śloka 3.33
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः
sadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ
प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि ।
prakṛterjñānavānapi |
प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि
prakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtāni
निग्रहः किं करिष्यति ॥ ३३ ॥
nigrahaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati ‖ 33 ‖
~~~
sadṛśam: according to; ceṣṭate: he acts; svasyāḥ: his own; prakṛteḥ-jñānavān-api: nature + wise person + even; prakṛtim: nature; yānti: they follow; bhūtāni: beings; nigrahaḥ: repression; kim: what; kariṣyati: it will do
“All beings follow nature. Even a wise person acts according to their own nature. What good will repression do?”
Śloka 3.34
इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे
indriyasyendriyasyārthe
रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ ।
rāgadveṣau vyavasthitau |
तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्-
tayorna vaśamāgacchet-
तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ ॥ ३४ ॥
tau hyasya paripanthinau ‖ 34 ‖
~~~
indriyasya-indriyasya-arthe: for the senses + of the senses + in the object; rāgadveṣau: attachment and aversion; vyavasthitau: existing in; tayoḥ-na: of them + not; vaśam-āgacchet-tau: control + he should fall + their; hi-asya: for + his; paripanthinau: obstacles along the path
“Attachment and aversion exist for each of the senses in their objects. One should not fall under their control, for they are obstacles along the path.”
Śloka 3.35
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ
परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt |
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः
svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ
परधर्मो भयावहः ॥ ३५ ॥
paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ ‖ 35 ‖
~~~
śreyān-svadharmaḥ: better + one’s duty; viguṇaḥ: imperfect; paradharmāt-su-anuṣṭhitāt: than another’s duty + perfect + than done; svadharme: in one’s duty; nidhanam: death; śreyaḥ: better; paradharmaḥ: another’s duty; bhayāvahaḥ: danger caused
“It is better to do your own duty imperfectly than to do another’s duty perfectly. Death in the course of your own duty is better than the danger caused by another’s duty.”
Śloka 3.36
अर्जुन उवाच
arjuna uvāca
अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं
atha kena prayukto’yaṃ
पापं चरति पूरुषः ।
pāpaṃ carati pūruṣaḥ |
अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय
anicchannapi vārṣṇeya
बलादिव नियोजितः ॥ ३६ ॥
balādiva niyojitaḥ ‖ 36 ‖
~~~
arjuna: Arjuna; uvāca: he said; atha: then; kena: by what; prayuktaḥ-ayam: driven by + this; pāpam: sin; carati: he commits; pūruṣaḥ: person; anicchan-api: unwilling + even; vārṣṇeya: O Descendant of Vṛṣṇi; balāt-iva: from (by) force + as if; niyojitaḥ: compelled
Arjuna said: “Then driven by what does a person commit sin, O Descendant of Vṛṣṇi, as if compelled by force against their will?”
Śloka 3.37
श्रीभगवानुवाच
śrībhagavānuvāca
काम एष क्रोध एष
kāma eṣa krodha eṣa
रजोगुणसमुद्भवः ।
rajoguṇasamudbhavaḥ |
महाशनो महापाप्मा
mahāśano mahāpāpmā
विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् ॥ ३७ ॥
viddhyenamiha vairiṇam ‖ 37 ‖
~~~
śrī-bhagavān-uvāca: The Blessed + Lord + he said; kāmaḥ: desire; eṣaḥ: this; krodhaḥ: anger; eṣaḥ: this; rajaoguṇa-samudbhavaḥ: quality of emotion + arising; mahāśanaḥ: insatiable; mahāpāpmā: sinful; viddhi-enam-iha: you should know + this + in this case; vairiṇam: enemy
The Blessed Lord said: “It is desire and anger co-arising from the quality of emotion. Know this to be the great insatiable, sinful enemy in this case.”
Śloka 3.38
धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्-
dhūmenāvriyate vahnir-
यथादर्शो मलेन च ।
yathādarśo malena ca |
यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्-
yatholbenāvṛto garbhas-
तथा तेनेदमावृतम् ॥ ३८ ॥
tathā tenedamāvṛtam ‖ 38 ‖
~~~
dhūmena-āvriyate: by smoke + it is covered; vahniḥ-yatha-ādarśaḥ: fire + just as + mirror; malena: by dust; ca: and; yathā-ulbena-āvṛtaḥ: just as + by the womb + covered; garbhaḥ-tathā: embryo + so; tena-idam-āvṛtam: by that + this + covered
“Just as fire is covered by smoke, a mirror by dust, and an embryo by its womb, so this [knowledge] is covered by that [desire].”
Śloka 3.39
आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन
āvṛtaṃ jñānametena
ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा ।
jñānino nityavairiṇā |
कामरूपेण कौन्तेय
kāmarūpeṇa kaunteya
दुष्पूरेणानलेन च ॥ ३९ ॥
duṣpūreṇānalena ca ‖ 39 ‖
~~~
āvṛtam: covered; jñānam-etena: knowledge + by this; jñāninaḥ: of the wise; nitya-vairiṇā: relentless + enemy; kāmarūpeṇa: + by (in) the form of desire; kaunteya: O Son of Kuntī; duṣpūreṇa-analena: by insatiable + by fire; ca: and
“The knowledge of the wise is covered by this relentless enemy in the form of desire, O Son of Kuntī, by this insatiable fire.”
Śloka 3.40
इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिर्-
indriyāṇi mano buddhir-
अस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते ।
asyādhiṣṭhānamucyate |
एतैर्विमोहयत्येष
etairvimohayatyeṣa
ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम् ॥ ४० ॥
jñānamāvṛtya dehinam ‖ 40 ‖
~~~
indriyāṇi: senses; manaḥ: mind; buddhiḥ-asya-adhiṣṭhānam-ucyate: intelligence + its + abodes + it is said; etaiḥ-vimohayati-eṣaḥ: through these + it deludes + this; jñānam-āvṛtya: knowledge + having covered; dehinam: soul
“The senses, the mind, and the intelligence are said to be the abodes of this desire. Through these, it deludes the soul, having covered its knowledge.”
Śloka 3.41
तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ
tasmāttvamindriyāṇyādau
नियम्य भरतर्षभ ।
niyamya bharatarṣabha |
पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं
pāpmānaṃ prajahi hyenaṃ
ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् ॥ ४१ ॥
jñānavijñānanāśanam ‖ 41 ‖
~~~
tasmāt-tvam-indriyāṇi-ādau: therefore + you + senses + in the beginning; niyamya: having restrained; bharatarṣabha: O Best of the Bhāratas; pāpmānam: evil demon; prajahi: you should slay; hi-enam: for + this; jñāna-vijñāna-nāśanam: knowledge + realization + destroyer
“Therefore, having restrained your senses in the beginning, O Best of the Bhāratas, slay this evil demon, for it is the destroyer of knowledge and realization.”
Śloka 3.42
इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुर्-
indriyāṇi parāṇyāhur-
इन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः ।
indriyebhyaḥ paraṃ manaḥ |
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्-
manasastu parā buddhir-
यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः ॥ ४२ ॥
yo buddheḥ paratastu saḥ ‖ 42 ‖
~~~
indriyāṇi: senses; parāṇi-āhuḥ-indriyebhyaḥ: superior + it is said + from (to) the senses; param: superior; manaḥ: mind; manasaḥ-tu: from (to) the mind + but; parā: superior; buddhiḥ-yaḥ: intelligence + what; buddheḥ: from (to) intelligence; parataḥ-tu: superior + but; saḥ: that
“It is said the senses are superior [to their objects]. But the mind is superior to the senses, and intelligence to the mind. But what is superior to intelligence is that [soul].”
Śloka 3.43
एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा
evaṃ buddheḥ paraṃ buddhvā
संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना ।
saṃstabhyātmānamātmanā |
जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो
jahi śatruṃ mahābāho
कामरूपं दुरासदम् ॥ ४३ ॥
kāmarūpaṃ durāsadam ‖ 43 ‖
~~~
evam: thus; buddheḥ: from (to) intelligence; param: superior; buddhvā: having realized; saṃstabhya-ātmānam-ātmanā: having strengthened + yourself + by the soul; jahi: you should slay; śatrum: enemy; mahābāho: O Mighty-Armed; kāmarūpam: form of desire; durāsadam: formidable
“Thus, having realized [the soul] is superior to intelligence, and having strengthened yourself by the soul, O Mighty-Armed, slay this formidable enemy in the form of desire!”